Compact Oil Level Gauge with Guide Hole for Engine Casing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oil level gauges are large and long, requiring increased shaft lengths for guidance, which complicates their attachment and can lead to measurement errors and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
An oil level gauge structure with a columnar portion that attaches to a casing via an external thread, featuring a guide hole for precise positioning and an inclining guide portion for smooth insertion, allowing for a compact design that reduces measurement errors and improves maintenance access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the oil level gauge is made long and large to attach to the upper portion of the crankcase cover, then the gauge can be installed, but the device size increases and complicates maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the oil level gauge from the upper portion to the lower portion of the crankcase cover, utilizing the lower corner space. This spatial repositioning allows the gauge to be shorter while still functioning effectively, as it no longer needs to reach from the top of the crankcase.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil level gauge is divided into distinct functional sections: a gauge section for measurement, a columnar portion for guidance, and an external thread portion for attachment. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently, with the columnar portion providing guidance without requiring excessive length.
2Manufacturing precision
If the shaft portion length is increased to provide guidance, then the gauge can be guided properly, but the overall gauge size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is achieved not by extending the shaft length vertically, but by utilizing the lower corner space and creating a guide hole that accommodates the columnar portion. This spatial reconfiguration provides guidance with minimal additional length.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide hole is introduced as an intermediary structure in the crankcase cover that receives and guides the columnar portion of the gauge. This separate guidance structure allows the gauge to be positioned accurately without requiring a long shaft portion.
3Measurement precision
If the oil level gauge is positioned closer to engine components, then measurement accuracy improves, but it may obstruct other mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The gauge is positioned in the lower corner portion of the crankcase cover, utilizing previously unused space. This location allows the gauge to be close to the oil sump for accurate measurement while remaining clear of the kick starter shaft and other mechanisms that operate in upper or central areas.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil level gauge structure with an oil level gauge attachment hole functioning as an oil filling opening provided in a casing of an engine with an oil level gauge for closing up the attachment hole. The oil level gauge has a columnar portion formed on the lower end side of an external thread. The columnar portion has a predetermined length and is continuous with the external thread for attaching the oil level gauge to the casing. A guide hole into which the columnar portion is fitted to restrict the position of the columnar portion is provided on the lower end side of an internal thread of an attachment hole of the casing. The columnar portion of the oil level gauge is formed to have such an axial length that the lower end of the columnar portion exceeds the depth of the internal thread of the casing.